Critical Deficiency Seen in Air Force Nuclear Missile Security

May 22, 2014 | Edited by Lauren Mladenka and Geoff Wilson

Nuclear Test Failure - “Armed security forces at a nuclear missile base failed a drill last summer that simulated the hostile takeover of a missile launch silo because they were unable to speedily regain control of the captured nuclear weapon, according to an internal Air Force review obtained by The Associated Press,” reports Robert Burns for AP. “The previously unreported failure, which the Air Force called a "critical deficiency," was the reason the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana flunked its broader safety and security inspection.”

--“The review obtained by the AP through a Freedom of Information Act request sought to examine why the security force showed an ‘inability to effectively respond to a recapture scenario.’ It cited their failure to take ‘all lawful actions necessary to immediately regain control of nuclear weapons’ but did not specify those actions. The prize for terrorists or others who might seek to seize control of a missile would be the nuclear warhead attached to it. In 2009, the Air Force cited a ‘post-9/11 shift in thinking’ about such situations, saying that while this nightmare scenario once was considered an impossibility, the U.S. ‘no longer has the luxury of assuming what is and what is not possible.’”

--“Labeling the security forces' misstep a ‘critical deficiency,’ the report said that because security of nuclear weapons is paramount, ‘the inability to demonstrate effective recapture/recovery TTPs (tactics, techniques and procedures) detracts from the Wing's ability to conduct its day-to-day mission.’ … The inspection failure was one of a string of nuclear missile corps setbacks revealed by the AP over the past year. The force has suffered embarrassing leadership and training lapses, breakdowns in discipline and morale problems. Earlier this year, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel ordered two parallel nuclear reviews, still underway, to address his concern that these lapses could erode public trust in the security of the nation's nuclear weapons.” Read the full report here. http://bit.ly/1ojyxom

On Iran negotiations and war - “There are few greater threats to the security of American families than those that could arise from the failure of the ongoing nuclear negotiations with Iran. Parts of this bill seek to disrupt the Administration’s tough, persistent diplomacy…Our arsenal of democracy includes more than bombs… Given the high cost of failure, we certainly cannot afford to surrender to defeatists and capitulate on negotiations before they’re even completed.” Watch Rep. Lloyd Doggett’s (D-TX) NDAA House floor speech on C-SPAN. http://cs.pn/Ras1Ep

Addressing suspicions - “Iran committed to take new steps by this summer for a U.N. probe on allegations that it pursued nuclear arms-related experiments,” Global Security Newswire reports. “Tehran accepted an Aug. 25 deadline to supply the International Atomic Energy Agency with data linked to allegations "of large-scale high-explosives experimentation in Iran," potentially marking a significant advancement in the U.N. nuclear watchdog's slow-moving inquiry,” as well as “offer ‘information and explanations related to studies made and/or papers published in Iran in relation to neutron transport and associated modeling and calculations and their alleged application to compressed materials.’"

--“Both actions would address questions outlined by the Vienna-based agency in a 2011 report on some of the organization's suspicions over possible nuclear bomb-related efforts in Iran. Tehran's cooperation with investigators may also indicate its readiness to address additional agency concerns in the future.” Full piece here. http://bit.ly/1jXX794

Test launch - “The land-based version of a U.S. antimissile system intended for European deployment had an initial test-launch on Tuesday,” writes Rachel Oswald in Global Security Newswire. The Pentagon “describes the trial flight of the Aegis Ashore system as successful. It took place shortly after 7:30 p.m. local time at the Pacific Missile Range Facility and at a complex specially set up for testing the missile defense technology… the event confirmed the functionality of Aegis Ashore components that detected and monitored a simulated ballistic missile threat and then fired a land-based Standard Missile 3 Block 1B interceptor in response. No live target was used in the trial.”

--“Aegis Ashore and two dozen Block 1B interceptors are planned for fielding in Romania next year as part of the Obama administration's ‘phased adaptive approach’ for providing missile protection to European NATO members. The White House on Tuesday said the Romania site ‘is firmly on budget and on schedule to be operational by the end of 2015.’ A follow-on Aegis Ashore site with more capable SM-3 interceptors is planned for fielding in Poland in the 2018-2020 timeframe.” Full article here. http://bit.ly/1lVWgsx

Tweet - @globalzero: Silicon Valley startup announces new #nuclear detection technology: owl.li/x72fV

Missile opposition - “Several defensive and offensive missile-themed provisions that originated in the Republican-controlled House have drawn opposition from the White House,” writes Sebastian Sprenger in Global Security Newswire. “The Obama administration decried as too risky and too expensive a push by lawmakers to accelerate the deployment to Poland of a land-based version of the Aegis missile defense system by sometime in 2016, and short-range antimissile capabilities by late 2014. House missile-defense advocates had inserted language to that effect into the fiscal 2015 defense authorization bill. The legislation is expected to be considered on the House floor this week.”

--“The White House also opposed bill language that would force the Pentagon to keep existing intercontinental ballistic missile silos available for possible use. The provision in question was spearheaded by lawmakers from states hosting these facilities.” Read the full article here. http://bit.ly/1gT7JM2

Tweet - @steven_pifer: Republicans in Congress continue to try to block New START implementation over Ukraine crisis. Unwise move that would not help Ukraine.

Exploring options - “The Republican-led House Rules Committee has blocked an effort by some House Democrats to have the Energy Department involve the private sector in its decision on how to dispose bomb-grade plutonium leftover from the Cold War,” writes Douglas Guarino in Global Security Newswire. “The Energy Department recently decided to put construction of a controversial facility that would convert the plutonium into nuclear fuel on hold while it considers whether to pursue other -- possibly cheaper -- ways of disposing the material.”

--“Representative John Garamendi (D-Calif.), with support from seven other House Democrats, offered the measure as an amendment to the fiscal 2015 defense authorization bill. It would have required the department to solicit proposals from contractors on how they might dispose of the plutonium, should the government decide to scrap the mixed-oxide fuel-conversion plan… Garamendi said the goal of the amendment was to accelerate the department's decision-making process. The measure also was ‘to involve those companies and entities that actually know how to do this stuff and have done and could do it,’ he said.” Full article here. http://bit.ly/1jxA8pZ

Advising sanctions - “A U.N. panel has reportedly advised sanctioning a North Korean military missile unit for its March test of a pair of Rodong ballistic missiles,” Global Security Newswire reports. “Unidentified diplomatic sources on Wednesday told Kyodo News that the committee of experts that reports to the U.N. Security Council on North Korean sanctions has recommended expanding the black list to cover the North Korean army's Strategic Rocket Force Command and its head, Kim Rak Gyom. The commander is thought to be close to ruler Kim Jong Un.”

--“Under Security Council rules, Pyongyang is prohibited from using ballistic missile technology. That did not stop the Kim Jong Un regime in late March from test-launching two medium-range Rodong missiles. Some independent foreign analysts now think the test could have involved a slightly altered version of the ballistic weapon that was modified in order to permit it to carry a future nuclear payload.” Read the full piece here. http://bit.ly/1lVQ4AD

Tweet - @FAScientists: New satellite image reveals Chinese #nuke upgrade to new DF-21 dual capable, med range ballistic missile: ow.ly/x6YTl

Time to step up - “Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is under fire from his right flank,” writes Akbar Ganji in a piece for Foreign Policy. “Less than a year after the reform-minded Rouhani was elected, hard-line critics say that engagement in negotiations with the P5+1 over Iran's nuclear program puts the country in grave danger. The negotiating team is reading the "last rites for the Islamic Republic," one hard-liner said after a May 3 conference of Rouhani critics… That may be an exaggeration. The Rouhani government, with tentative backing from the powerful clergy, is making earnest efforts to reach an agreement over the future of Iran's nuclear program. But under pressure from political adversaries at home and influential quarters in the Middle East, Rouhani will need the West to cooperate too.

--“Significant sanctions relief that will help in reviving Iran's economy will go a long way toward this goal. That has not happened yet. On the contrary, several months after signing the Geneva accord, the West -- and, in particular, the United States -- has still not delivered on its commitment to supply Iran's old civilian aircraft with the spare parts that will allow them to fly safely. And, as the Kayhan editorial notes, Iran still does not even have direct access to the oil revenue that is to be released in installments according to last November's Geneva agreement.

--“If the negotiations fail, the Middle East will witness more wars, and regional and international security will be unstable for years to come. A collapse of the nuclear negotiations will increase the likelihood of a war between Iran and Israel, a situation that would dramatically disrupt the flow of oil from the region -- and with it inflict serious pain on the global economy. The West must aid the Rouhani administration in its efforts. If a final agreement is reached, it will have profound consequences for peace and stability in the Middle East and beyond. The future of any hope for stability and genuine reform in Iran, too, hangs in the balance.” Read the full piece here. http://atfp.co/1ojAIsf

Quick-hit:

--“Iran’s President: Nuclear Deal by July ‘Likely’” by Louise Watt for AP. http://abcn.ws/1i7WLgo

Events:

--“The Korean Peninsula Issues and U.S. National Security.” Discussion with Wallace Gregson, Gen. Seung Jo Jung, Joseph Bosco, David Maxwell, and Larry Niksch. May 23 from 1:15-4:30 at 345 Cannon House Office Building. RSVP here. http://bit.ly/1lBkqXQ

--“The United States and Global Missile Defense.” Discussion with 20 policy experts. May 28 at 8:30am at the Atlantic Council, 1030 15th St. NW, 12th floor, West Tower. RSVP here. http://bit.ly/1lFlA5Z

--“Chain Reaction 2014.” Ploughshares Fund Gala with Michael Douglas, Jeremy Ben-Ami and Trita Parsi. June 3 from 6:00 to 8:30 at The Open Square at Futures Without Violence, 100 Montgomery Street, The Presidio of San Francisco. Purchase tickets here. http://bit.ly/1nexkld